Magazine for the auto service professional
Issue link: http://asp.epubxp.com/i/636156
Circle 117 on Reader Service Card only option. This tied up an employee as well as inconvenienced the customer, par- ticularly if they were in your waiting room. Fortunately, the aftermarket has risen to the challenge and offers replacement sen- sors of all designs. When it comes to selecting a replacement sensor, you have three basic choices: 1. Direct replacement, or "part for part" replacement sensors, can be obtained from original equipment as well as after- market providers, and typically do not require any programming or confguring with a TPMS tool. 2. Multi-protocol sensors, as the name suggests, come "pre-loaded" with many sensor protocols in a single sensor body. Again, no confguring is required, but a TPMS tool is needed to do the "re-learn." 3. Programmable sensors typically rep- resent fewer SKUs, but are able to cover a greater range of vehicles. The sensors are blank or in need of confguration before use. There are two basic types of sensors: One- piece and two-piece. A one-piece sensor has the housing and valve molded together. The valve is not removable. The items that should be serviced on this style of sensor include the valve core, hex nut, grommet, cap and washer. If the valve is broken or corrosion has occurred, this sensor is not serviceable and the entire sensor will need to be replaced. Two-piece: A two-piece sensor has a removable valve stem that can be separated from the sensor housing. The serviceable items on this style of sensor are a replace- ment valve, valve core, hex nut, grommet and cap. With this type we also have two different valve confgurations. OE manufacturers recommend replacing the two-piece, snap-in rubber valve when- ever the sensor is removed from the wheel. The Chassis